A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck Sulawesi Island in Indonesia, shaking Palu city for more than a minute and triggering strong aftershocks.
The tremors forced hospitals to evacuate patients, some with IV drips, outside as a precaution. Guests at a hotel in Palu were also evacuated after the building shook, though damage remained minimal. Authorities reported scattered damage but no confirmed casualties.
Meanwhile, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Haixi prefecture in Qinghai province, China, at 5:06 pm local time on Tuesday. The shallow quake, at a depth of 10 kilometres, caused at least one death and injured four others. Chinese media reported eight tremors within 40 minutes, with aftershocks including one of around magnitude 5.
The epicentre lay near salt lakes and mining sites, prompting the evacuation of a coal mine. China’s earthquake administration activated a Level III emergency response, deploying rescue teams and coordinating with local authorities. Preliminary estimates suggested that 8,660 people were exposed to the tremors. The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) assigned the quake a score of 2, indicating limited impact, though shaking ranged from moderate to severe in parts of the region.
Western provinces such as Qinghai, Sichuan, and Tibet remain highly vulnerable due to tectonic activity along the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian plates. Both incidents highlight the persistent seismic risks across Asia’s fault lines.
